Our sorrow and grief over the deaths of 21 people at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde are immeasurable. In this moment some of us are only able to sit with our emotions and reactions; know that you are not alone, and you are being held in prayer.   If you are looking for ways to respond, please consider these suggestions:

Pray – There will be a service of prayer and wholeness at First Presbyterian Church in Uvalde today (May 25th) at 6:30 p.m. A link is not available right now, but watch their Facebook page for details. There are also a number of congregations in the SWT Synod holding prayer services. Check with your congregation or visit the synod’s Facebook page for announcements.

Donate blood – Book an appointment at University Health system in San Antonio, South Texas Blood and Tissue Center in San Antonio, New Braunfels, etc., or check other local outlets.

Donate funds – You can give to the SWT Synod Disaster Response Team electronically through our online giving page. Checks may be made to the SWT Synod Memo: Disaster Team and mailed to the synod office. We are grateful for your contributions which will be used locally as concrete needs are identified in the coming days.  

Click below to access resources for prayer and lament which are available from the ELCA and All Creation Sings.   

Service After a Violent Event

Lamenting Gun Violence

Gun Violence Litany

A prayer from Rev. Laurie Kraus (PCUSA):

God our shelter, hold us under the shadow of your wings as we bow before you in grief and pain. We pray for each family who has lost a beloved child, a parent, a friend; we pray for those who have witnessed horror, and are wounded in body or spirit, for each of them is a child made in your image. We pray for ourselves, that we will find strength to support the brokenhearted, grace to find our way in the darkness of grief, anger and loss; light to sense your presence, even in the valley of the shadow of death. Restore our hopes, our hearts, even as we weep with grief and tremble with anger. Fill us, your wounded, willing people, with a peace that passes understanding, the courage to nurture healing and hope, and the willingness to bear the Christ light, even in these days of shadow. In the name of Jesus, we pray.

Amen. 

In recognition of the lives lost in the shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina in 2015, we will hold a joint prayer service with Bishop Sue Briner and Presiding Elder W. Raymond Bryant of the San Antonio District of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church.

The service will take place on Friday, June 17th at 7 pm and we will have more information about how you can access the service as the date comes closer. We hope that you'll join us for this annual remembrance.

Hello, I’m Chris Steubing and I serve as Director for Evangelical Mission in the Southwestern Texas Synod. For this year’s synod assembly 2022, I’ve written and recorded a song based on our theme “Got Good News? Go with it!” This song tells the incredible story of the encounter between Phillip and the Ethiopian eunuch in the book of Acts. The Ethiopian was headed home by way of a wilderness road after what must have been a confusing visit to Jerusalem. He’d gone there to worship, but as a foreigner and a eunuch he would’ve been excluded from fully participating. The Holy Spirit sent Phillip out to that same road where he was able to share the good news of Jesus’ love, justice, and radical welcome for all. It was a surprising, unexpected place to go, but that’s where the good news was needed. And both of the travelers were transformed by their experience. I’m giving this song, ‘Got good news,’ away as a free download because I want to get the word out that the Spirit is sending us in our synod to go with the good news to surprising, unexpected places.

When the 2022 ELCA Youth Gathering was canceled, a team of youth workers decided to plan an alternative gathering. The Southwestern Texas Boundless 
Adventure was born. This trip will be a combination of service, learning, activity, fellowship and worship. All youth in high school from congregations within the 
Southwestern Texas Synod are invited.

Faith Lutheran Church in Bellaire, TX will be our home base. We will be cooking and sleeping at the church. Service projects will be conducted in the morning time. 
Learning, fellowship, fun and worship time will take place in the afternoon and evenings. All meals are included. More trip details to come.

Cost: $350 (by June 1st) Scholarships available. Transportation is the responsibility of each congregation.

Sunday, 7/24 – 6:00 pm Arrival 
Friday, 7/29 – 11:00 am Departure

Contact Denise Blomquist, youth@pvlc.org, with questions.

If not, please click the link that matches your roster status below:

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